N. Carolina doctors poised to act fast on swine flu

Though a Carolinas case hasn't been reported, Mecklenburg's top health official plans to issue a letter this morning advising doctors and hospitals to take no chances and treat suspected swine flu patients aggressively with anti-viral medication.

Local hospitals aren't able to test for the specific flu strain, which is newly discovered.

But doctors can rely on their observations and medical tests to rule out other possibilities.

"Physicians are asked to keep a high index of suspicion for swine flu in patients with respiratory symptoms who have recently traveled to" places where it's been reported, said Stephen Keener, the county's medical director, in an e-mail accompanying a draft of the letter.

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